The difference between tree peony and herbaceous peony: a quick guide to telling them apart

Herbaceous peony and tree peony are known as the "two beauties among flowers" because their appearance is so similar that people find it hard to tell them apart. We can distinguish them simply by looking at the following points.

1. Look at the stem: the tree peony is a woody plant that can grow to more than 2 m tall, and its stem does not wither after the leaves drop. The herbaceous peony is a herbaceous plant, and its stem withers after the leaves drop. Therefore, the tree peony is also called "woody herbaceous peony," and the herbaceous peony is also called "boneless flower."

Tree peony

Herbaceous peony

2. Leaves: tree peony leaves are broad and alternate, dark green on the upper side and slightly yellow on the underside, hairless, with a white bloom on the underside; herbaceous peony leaves are narrower, borne singly near the flower, and dark green on both sides.

Tree peony

Herbaceous peony

3. Blooming period: the tree peony blooms in late April, and the herbaceous peony blooms in early May, so the two flowering periods just connect with each other.

Tree peony

Herbaceous peony

4. Flower shape: the tree peony bears a single terminal flower, and the flower is large, generally around 20 cm; the herbaceous peony bears one or several terminal flowers, and the flowers are smaller.

Tree peony

Herbaceous peony

From these 4 aspects, we can make a preliminary distinction between the herbaceous peony and the tree peony.